PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG CHILDREN IN SOME SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KACHIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health burden, especially among school-aged children in resource-limited settings. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, species distribution, and associated risk factors of these infections among 330 pupils from six primary schools in Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Stool samples were analyzed using direct smear and formal-ether concentration techniques. The overall prevalence was 24.5%, with helminths (18.8%) predominating over protozoa (5.76%). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common helminth (7.89%), followed by hookworm (5.45%), Trichuris trichiura (2.73%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.52%), and Taenia species (1.21%). Entamoeba histolytica (3.64%) and Giardia lamblia (2.12%) were the identified protozoa. Infection was significantly associated with older age, male gender, lower socio-economic status, poor hygiene practices, and inadequate sanitation. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated control strategies, including routine school-based deworming, improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and sustained health education programs to reduce the burden of parasitic infections in this vulnerable population.